Sai Avatar Declaration Day - 20th October

 On this day in 1940 ...

On the 20th day of October, 1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by a special bus, Sathya started for school as usual. 

The Excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu, who was very much attached to the young Baba, accompanied Him as far as the school gate and reluctantly went home.

 He seemed to see a superb halo around the face of Baba that day, and he could not take his eyes away from that enchantment. 

Within a few minutes Baba also turned back to the house. Standing on the outer doorstep, He cast aside the books He was carrying and called out, *"I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai."* 

The sister-in-law came from the kitchen and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendor of the halo which she saw around his Head!

 She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, *"I am going. I don't belong to you; Maya (illusion) has gone; My devotees are calling Me; I have My Work. I cannot stay any longer."*

So saying, He turned and left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing of this, but Sai Baba only told him, "Give up all your efforts to 'cure' Me. I am Sai. I do not consider Myself related to you." 

Neighbor Sri Narayana Sastri heard the noise; he listened and realized that it was something serious. He ran in. Seeing the splendor of the halo, he fell at Sathya's Feet. He too heard the historic declaration: "Maya has left; I am going; My Work is waiting."

He moved out into the garden of Sri Anjaneyulu's bungalow and sat on a rock in the midst of the trees. 

People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers and fruits. The grove resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the lines that Sri Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them that day was, as many still remember:

Manasa bhajare gurucharanam; 

Dusthara bhava saagara tharanam 

Meditate in thy mind on the Feet of the Guru. 

This can take you across the difficult sea of existence in birth after birth.

Photo of the rock on which Swami sat.  This
rock now has a marble statue of little Sathya and
is worshipped with utmost faith and devotion
by devotees.